The totally unofficial season 8 thread.

[tangent]

As there does'nt seem to be place for this yet i thought i'd jump right in and make one .

So what are we making so far of the comic form season? Is it everything we wanted? what or who else would you like to see? And perhaps most importantly where do we think it is going?

Personally i just got 8.03 at the weekend due to my local supplier running out the day after the issue came out and so far i'm loving every second of it. The artwork, cover art in particular, is superb although i think that sometimes buffy herself comes off as being slightly...odd looking. Xander is so far my character of the season though and about time too. Mr harris certainly seems to have found his niche at slayer HQ.

As for what i would like to see, well firstly i want more giles. The original watcher just isn't getting enough screen time for me. I also want faith (god do i want faith).

So what do we think people c'mon share your opinions and seculations.

[ferdy-m]

A word from Scott Allie, DH's "producer" - although his role is unique he says - working closely with Joss on S8 - through whedonesque.com ...

http://www.stakesandsalvation.com/

J: (Interviewer) Thanks for doing the interview. Is there any thing else you want to tell the readers of Season Eight?

SA: There's a new social disease spreading around that you get from not reading Season Eight. I don't want to get too graphic, but stuff turns black and, sadly, doesn't fall off. But it does learn to talk.

Working with JW sounds a lorra fun and he confirms it's canon, but I'd like to test that theory when I've got more time - I've followed Joss boldly into genres that would have blown my head into little itty pieces for over 10 years, but comicbook is eluding me ...

[KingofCretins]

I've almost gotten Big Honkin' Castle, or BHC, to catch on as the nickname of their Scotland headquarters. I love that Xander and Buffy are still basically side by side and in the thick of it. I want to see more of Buffy as trainer and teacher and more of Xander in action, just to keep their roles more balanced in what they do all the time. Buffy is a natural teacher, I think, despite Season 7.

[Ameer]

I loved Issue #3 a lot more than I loved the previous 2 issues. It had some typical 'Buffy' moments, especially some of the Buffy/Xander/Willow parts. As much as I am loving the comics, I do hope that the writers don't use this medium as an excuse to write some over-the-top storylines, which I'm sure they won't. I would like the series to stick to the original show as much as possible otherwise it's going to be very difficult to accept it as canon, despite what Joss and the publishers might say.

So far, I'm loving what I've read. 6th June is too far away. After that last panel in Issue #3, who here is not dying to lay their hands on Issue #4? I'm also looking forward to Issue #5, a stand-alone issue that Joss is writing. From the little I've heard about it, I'm very excited to see how it's going to turn out.

[KingofCretins]

Joss said that he is looking forward to doing stuff that they never had the budget to do; Giant Dawn is an example. So there will be 'over-the-top' stuff, but I'm hoping it will be rooted in a much closer exploration of the central characters. I'm also vigorously hoping for Buffy/Xander, and I do think that he kissed her, no matter how "obvious" it might be.

As for Issue 8.05, "The Chain", I'm looking forward

Spoiler:

to seeing Vi and Rona again.

[Ameer]

Giant Dawn, I definitely don't mind. I think Dawn is more endearing than ever before. I won't mind 'over-the-top' storylines as long as they contribute to character devlopment and the storyline in the long run.

Issue #5 -

Spoiler:

I am also looking forward to seeing Vi and Rona. Vi, especially. It's going to be interesting to see how they are going to fit in Tokyo, which is where the events of Issue 5 are going to take place. They are probably going to go and look for a new slayer.

The art for the series is pretty well done, in my opinion, although I do have slight issues with certain characters. Dawn, especially. It took me a while to realize who it was the first time around. I think Xander is the best-drawn character, or at least the most easily recognizable one, what with the eye-patch and all.

[Dorian's Kitten]

I can't remember which interview I read it in, but Joss specifically told the artists to draw the characters and not the actors. Which is why no one looks quite the same as we might expect. What I am not sure about is why he did that. Any ideas?

[KingofCretins]

Joss mentioned that there are likeness rights issues in an interview with the Buffy magazine, but he was not specific as to what characters that is a problem for.

[Dorian's Kitten]

That's disappointing. I guess I am still a bit of an ideologue; I would wish the actors would all be willing to accept that, after being involved in something as popular and cult-tastic as Buffy, they should allow the use of their images. Not just any dark-haired guy with pointy ears would look like Spock and not just any red haired girl will look like Willow.

[KingofCretins]

Joss has also said that it's not as easy to attract people to draw characters that are primarily identified with actors, so he probably just wanted to emphasize to any other artists that might want to work on the book someday that it's safe to do it.

I reiterate my entirely prurient desire to see J. Scott Campbell draw the book at some point.

[Dorian's Kitten]

Thank You, I feel better. At least that's an art based reason.

So, if I can maneuver discussion in another direction for a bit. I am really curious what people are making of the three crosses (X's). I posted in the other place that I found a Norse Symbol called the Web of Wyrd that is composed of three overlapping X's.

The web serves as a reminder that the actions of the past affect the present and that present actions affect the future; all timelines are inextricably interconnected- in a sense, it is a representation of the tree of life.


I think it is an interesting possibility but I also got the idea from the book that it should be meaningful to Buffy-like she should remember it. Of course her Odin reference suggests she knows more Norse mythology than I would have anticipated.

Any other thoughts floating around out there?

[Wolfie Gilmore]

So, if I can maneuver discussion in another direction for a bit. I am really curious what people are making of the three crosses (X's). I posted in the other place that I found a Norse Symbol called the Web of Wyrd that is composed of three overlapping X's.

The web serves as a reminder that the actions of the past affect the present and that present actions affect the future; all timelines are inextricably interconnected- in a sense, it is a representation of the tree of life.


I think it is an interesting possibility but I also got the idea from the book that it should be meaningful to Buffy-like she should remember it. Of course her Odin reference suggests she knows more Norse mythology than I would have anticipated.

Any other thoughts floating around out there?

I think that it's probably something character-based, given that the symbolism of Buffy's dreams has (usually) been rooted in people, in relationships (eg be back before Dawn), rather than mystical-referency...then again, there was that bizarre meta thing with counting down from 7-3-0 (something about how long it was before Dawn appeared wasn't it? Can't remember how that worked). So maybe you're right and it is something mystical. Though a lot of Buffy mythology is maguffin-based and made up!

I haven't got a specific theory. Maybe it's a symbol of a group of rival slayers? Maybe someone's going to make three Xanders and Buffy will have sex with all of them, outdoing even Anya's fantasy....maybe it's a computer code of some kind, related to the military?

Some questions that might spark ideas....

- Are the X-s crosses, or are they the letter X?

- what might come in threes in the Buffyverse? Connection to three as magic number? The trio?? (well, warren is around now...but I doubt it) Xander Buffy and Willow??

-might it have something to do with where Ethan's imprisoned?

I must read the comic again cos I can't remember exactly what the panels looked like.

[KingofCretins]

- Are the X-s crosses, or are they the letter X?

They are three dimensional roman numerals that may also be construction crossbeams. They are arranged in three sides of a square, with Ethan standing inside with the open space behind him.

Maybe someone's going to make three Xanders and Buffy will have sex with all of them, outdoing even Anya's fantasy....

Wow...

Best. Fic. Ever.

[Wolfie Gilmore]

They are three dimensional roman numerals that may also be construction crossbeams. They are arranged in three sides of a square, with Ethan standing inside with the open space behind him.

Hmm....so, perhaps something to do with the number 30, or multiples thereof?

I hate numbers. They make my head hurt!

Now I'm thinking "fourth wall", due to Ethan's shakespeare referencing...but I think that's a step too far.

Oh, about that, what do people think of the "more an antique roman than a dane" reference? That would make him Horatio, Hamlet's scarcely-developed foil (of "Alas poor yorrick, I knew him horatio" fame)...and by implication of the quote, more rational than emotional perhaps? Or suicidal!!

Horatio's also an outside observer to Hamlet's craziness, a sounding board for him...maybe he's saying he's just Buffy's "witless foil" here (to quote Xander)?

Damn, does anyone have a scan of the page? Don't have it with me.

Best. Fic. Ever.

Heh. I'm sure Buffy would enjoy it too

[Dorian's Kitten]

HMMM...things that come in threes. We have lost three beloved people: Joyce, Tara, Anya. Buffy's died three times (if we count when she was shot by Warren). Buffy's had three boyfriends (Parker couldn't count right?). Giles apparently got frisky with three women during his time in Sunnydale.
Clearly I am grasping at straws.

King of Cretins:Are you by any chance a Bander Shipper? (Is my sarcasm coming through here?) Excellent determination and loyalty through the years; I hope you are given a little somethin' somethin' during season eight by way of vindication.

[KingofCretins]

Well, I've posted three fanfics on the actual site, and two of them have Buffy/Xander-ness. I am a definite 'shipper.

I am not going in for the symbolism theories on the comic yet. Take the Hamlet quote. Does it make him an outside observer? Yeah. And it's very possible that's *all* he is. Buffy had just said that her two best guesses to interpreting the "X" structure were "Vin Diesel and porn". I think that's the kind of thing that would lead a man like Ethan to dryly quote Shakespeare. The stuff I think is important in Ethan's talk is that "twilight is coming" -- that might be a play on the symbol that Buffy interpreted as "a beautiful sunset".

[tangent]

I bthink the three x's are going to be importan as only a few frames later ethan is telling buffy to remember what she see's here and ethan in the 'cage' is certainly the bit that jumps out at me as being a little different from the rest.

One interpretation of the three x's could be as a triple cross maybe? a warning that maybe ethan himself might not be trustworthy perhaps? or a warning to watch out for a previously redeemed bad guy?

But then again maybe its the fallen figure in the tunnel a couple of frames earlier that's imortant or something in the dream cubes.

[ciderdrinker]

So what do we think people c'mon share your opinions and seculations.

I haven't got an actual "hold in your hand" look at any of the issues yet, but I have read the transcripts on BWF, so can kinda answer (although the few post above me all go completely over my head). I read the transcripts for a few seasons of BtVS and AtS before actually watching them, so in a way I'm used to it. Mostly, I can really hear the voices and the intonations of the characters and that is way impressivo.

I was watching Damage yesterday and was wondering how the season 8 will explain what Andrew says about everyone's whereabouts. I know "Buffy in Rome/with the Immortal" has been explained already, but what about Willow and Xander (respectively South America and Africa)? Are we to presume that in the comics everyone has returned from these travels, or is it more of Andrew's lies? Quite clearly, Andrew has been spending time in England with Giles at the point of Damage (clue - the Union Flag on his brown lunch bag) so does he go to Italy after then, or was he lying about everything?

We get two other tie-in's during S5 of AtS, and only TGIQ has been explained, so far. I really would like to see the other side of Angel/Giles convo from AHITW, or at least a reference to it, if it happened before the comic starts (I'm a bit hazy on the timeline).

Other than that, I wanna see some "core four" time! If this is the last we're gonna get from Buffy, I want to see them all come full circle, in a more in-depth way then the "The Earth is Doomed" scene in Chosen.

[KingofCretins]

I was watching Damage yesterday and was wondering how the season 8 will explain what Andrew says about everyone's whereabouts. I know "Buffy in Rome/with the Immortal" has been explained already, but what about Willow and Xander (respectively South America and Africa)? Are we to presume that in the comics everyone has returned from these travels, or is it more of Andrew's lies? Quite clearly, Andrew has been spending time in England with Giles at the point of Damage (clue - the Union Flag on his brown lunch bag) so does he go to Italy after then, or was he lying about everything?

Right now, the safest assumption is that Andrew was actively providing "disinformation" to the people in L.A. In the case of Willow, particularly, the evidence is that nobody really knows what the heck Willow and Kennedy were up to for at least a year prior to "The Long Way Home". That pretty much precludes them knowing she and Kennedy were supposed to be working out of South America.

Or, Andrew might have thought she was, because maybe the fact that she was just sort of gone was a secret being kept by Buffy and Xander, and presumably Giles.

I can't figure that Xander was ever really in Africa, or rather, that if he was, he was just leading a mission of some kind.

We get two other tie-in's during S5 of AtS, and only TGIQ has been explained, so far. I really would like to see the other side of Angel/Giles convo from AHITW, or at least a reference to it, if it happened before the comic starts (I'm a bit hazy on the timeline).

Between this conversation and "Damage", the only thing that Andrew appeared to be telling the truth about is that the Scoobies don't trust Angel anymore. Now, again, because we know that Willow has been gone, Giles was being lying about Willow's whereabouts, but the fact is, he had no interest in helping Angel at all.

The comic is set around 6 months after "Not Fade Away".

[Dorian's Kitten]

The comic is set around 6 months after "Not Fade Away".

You're assuming that "Not Fade Away" is a year after "Chosen", but I don't know that it is necessarily the case. All of the seasons cannot be exactly the same length; the apocalypse cannot occur during the same week each year.

Now that I am done nitpicking, I will agree that it is probably at least a few months after NFA and probably not more than a year.